Bringing the Sunshine In

Photo credits to Caryn B Davis. www.carynbdavis.com

Burst of citrus brings the kitchen to life

Outdated oak cabinets, a small island with a tiled top and inadequate work surfaces were the impetuses these homeowners used to make changes to their quaint Madison summer home.  With no true focal point and double entrances to the kitchen work space, the original layout became a busy thoroughfare and did not give the chef of the day enough space to create his or her signature dish.  In order to remedy these design challenges and drawing on their passion for color, the owners became inspired by an eye-catching, pumpkin orange Viking 48 inch range that became the heart from which the new look began to evolve.

“Cheerful” was at the top of the homeowner’s wish list as was a more functional and spacious kitchen.  The home is owned by 2 brothers and their wives and summer draws a large crowd where relaxing and entertaining go hand in hand.  Both families enjoy cooking, but the original kitchen lacked work space for more than one chef at a time and did not have an efficient traffic pattern or necessary amenities.  The new kitchen by Covenant Kitchens & Baths in Westbrook, is light and spacious and has deliberate and practical design elements.  Appliances are an integral part of the design and along with the stunning orange range include the following in stainless steel: 24” Sharp microwave drawer in the island, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, wine cooler, under counter ice maker, and Asko dishwasher.  Closing one section of perimeter provided more work surface and made walking into the kitchen an intentional decision rather than devoting kitchen real estate for use as a walkway. 

Vibrant Fiestaware featured in the space is the homeowner’s passion and the new kitchen is equipped with the perfect open shelving to display some of their sizable collection.  The neutral grays and whites of the surroundings facilitate an easy change of decor simply by selecting other dishes.

Before: Cabinets were builders grade oak and counter tops were tile.

After: White cabinets and grey accents are perfect with a pop of vibrant orange.

 

White perimeter cabinets and a gray island function as a backdrop, showcasing the pop of vibrant color and act as an anchor in the space.  “People are sometimes afraid of committing to color so the trick is how to use it,” says Kira Van Deusen of Covenant Kitchens & Baths.

Before: Small window flanked by cabinets did not let in the sunlight

Grey and white are the perfect neutrals and can create the back drop for most any color accessories

  “Here we used orange as the key color and due to the white and gray canvas, almost any other color easily could be substituted and the room would still look great,” she adds.  For example, Viking offers a ‘skin’ for some of their models, allowing  the home owner flexibility in changing the color of the range as time and tastes evolve. 

Before: The space seemed dark and lacked a focal point.

After: The Pumpkin Orange Viking range gave the room a great point of interest!

  Interest is created in several ways: through the use of texture in the chosen materials, touches of beadboard, and honed granite and tile keep the space interesting.  The tile covering the entire first floor was in great condition but there wasn’t enough surplus to accommodate the kitchen floor renovation.  To remedy this, Covenant’s designer chose a gray textured wood-look plank tile for the floor and used a mosaic border containing both the gray of the new kitchen tile and the beige of the existing tile to create an ideal transition and define the kitchen space.

Wine storage and ice maker round out the amenities.

Back splash and floor tile add textural interest.

The backsplash tile containing circles of Carrara marble and glass with three intentionally placed ceramic sea stars sets the beach tone and plays well against the orange of the stove and wall.  Bead board behind white open shelving that is painted a shade lighter gray than the island gives more visible texture.  Steel Gray granite perimeter tops provide a great accent without being as harsh a contrast as black granite might have been.

It's all in the details, color and texture are paramount.

The whole look was created to be happy, sunshine-filled and reminiscent of summer days on the shore. The functionality of the room is timeless. 

Highlights:

·         Don’t overlook lighting, it is important to both form and function and can be the jewelry of the room.

·         The use of a simple, beautiful door style helps keep the cost down, yet does not sacrifice good looks.

·         Don’t underestimate using a mix of distinctly different design elements.  Modern and classic materials work well together, from concrete to beadboard to marble, stainless steel and punched tin.

·         Repeat design elements for continuity.  Orange stove, orange painted accent wall.  White Carrara island top, White Carrara in backsplash.  Gray, black and stainless accents.

·         Select an unusual palette of colors against a neutral white or gray backdrop. Don’t be afraid to use a color you love.

Photo credits to Caryn B Davis. www.carynbdavis.com